Routing machine



Aug. 16, 1927 G, H. Vc :ARLSON ROUTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 192sasheets-sheet 1 "Au-g, 16, 1927'.

. G. H. cARLsoN` ROUTING MACHINE Filed March 22. 192s s sheets-sheenAug. 16, 1927.

G. H; CARLSON ROUTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

Acarre STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

GEORG-E I'I. CARLSN, OF .ROCKFOBD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORKTO REDIN, EKSTROM& CO., OF RGCKFGBD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION-F ILLIIITJIZS.V

ROUTING MACHINE.

Application lediMarch 22, 1926. `Serial No. 96,386.

.i adjustment of the cutting tools carried by said spindles. l

@ther objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed de.

scription taken-in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the featuresofthe present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along the lines 2 2 and 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Fig. 4 shows a board which has been vgrooved by the present machine.

lVhile I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detailthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that Ido not intend thereby to be limited to the particular form disclosed butaim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions fallingwithin the scope of the 1 appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention shown herein comprises a horizontallyslidable table for supporting the board to be grcoved, a plurality ofrotaryv spindles carrying tools projecting upwardly through the tableand a clamping device for holding the board upon the table while it isbeing carried toward and away from the tools. All of these parts aresupported by a framework comprising two side standards rigidly connectedintermediate their ends by bars 11 and at their upper ends by arectangularly shaped casting l2 which constitutes the bedof theinachine. In the present instance the bed has a rectangular opening thefront and rear et ges of which are defined by horizontal ledges 13having flat upper surfaceslll, near their inner edges.

Supported at their opposite ends uponr the ledges 13 of the bedare aplurality of spindie carrying bars 15 which are capable of beingadjusted transversely of thel bed whereby grooves may be spaced anydesired distances apart. The bars are also mounted for adjustmentlongitudinally of the bed whereby grooves of different lengths may beformed. For this purpose each bar is of rectangular cross section andhas a fiat under surface which is held firmly against the surfaces 14 ofthe bed by clamping devices having bolts 16 extending through elongatedvertical slots 17 in opposite ends of the bar.y

The lower ends of the bolts 16 carry U- shaped clamping hooks 18, thelong legs of which project into the slots 17 and serve ,to hold themembers in fixed position relative to the bain The short legs of thehooks are disposed beneath the ledges 13 and are adapted to project intogrooves 19 extending longitudinally of the ledges on the undersidethereof. At the upper ends, the bolts rare eqiupped with nuts 2O whichmay be tightened down against the washers 21 to clamp thebar in anydesired position. Thus, it will Y be observed, that 'the ledges 13provide for adjustment of the bars transversely of the bed while theslots 17 provide for longitudinal adjustment of the bars. i

Threaded into a central vertical opening in each bar 15 is a tubularmember 22 which constitutes a bearing housing for a spindle 23 extendingtherethrough. .Each spindle is journaled in ball bearings 24;, one ofwhich is mounted in a cap 25 on the lower endof the spindle housing andthe other of which is positioned in an enlarged portion of the housingbelow a shoulder 26 so as to sustain the downward thrust of the spindle.At its upper end, each spindle is equipped with a suitable chuck 27adapted to hold a cutting bit 23 in vertical position. Threaded onto thehousing 22 is 'a locking nut 29 which may be tightened down against theupper surface of the supporting bar to lock the housing therein afterthe spindle has been adjusted vertically to form a groove of the desireddepth. f

Power from an electric motor 30 is applied to the spindles by belts 31running around pulleys 33 fixed on the lower ends ofthe spindles.Preferably, the alternate spindles adjustably'niounted on the rear. side'of the framework, the belts being passed alter f the positions ot' thenately around these pulleys and the pulley 33 as is shown in 2. Thebelts are tensioned by springs 36 acting on pulleysl svvingably mountedfrom the ranie. By thus mounting the spindle pulleys in staggeringrelation on the lovver ends oi the spindles7 it Will be apparent thatthe adjacent spindles may be positioned relatively close to each otherwithout interference ot their pulleys. it is possible therefore to cutgrooves ivhich are substantially the saine length and spaced very closeto each other.

rlhe table upon which the board to be.

lirnily` clanipcd. lt ivill be understood that the bit will 2S to beused in forming a groove project upwardly above the t p sui-tace i edetermining the cut.

-the groove to be is provided for sudably supporting JYon the niainifraineivorlr. 'lhis ts of a carri comprising two ueeted by plates andequipped vvithgrooved Wheels Ll5 which :oll'alongv the traclf bars loinounted on the sideV standards lO. The' table is provided at its sideedges with siniilar track bars el? which rest upon the Wheels .4r-5.Stops d8 at the forward ends ot' the tracks d8 and stops from the rearends ot the tracks il? serve to inrit the forwardinoveinent ot thecarrii O'e tive to the machine traine. i9 is an adjustable stop whichliinitsthe rear- Ward travel ot the table thereby de erniining thelength ot the grooves.

'llo hold the board lirnily upon the table vvhile it is being grooved,any suitable clamping means may be employed. The nieans shox 'i hereincoi'npzfises tivo standupst-anding ro n the side edges ot the table andcarrving slidable bearing blocks 5l in which eccentris 52 on a shaft 3are iournaled. A l -shaped clamping l s slidably niounte-d in thestandards 50 i il@ he up-V spindle supporting bars ane then adjusted onthe bed so that the grooves Will be properly spaced laterally and of thedesired lengt-h. The tools are thus set tor operation inotor started.

' n the table pulled forwardly as shown 3, the operative places theboard to o-ved upon the table with its rear edge against adjustablestops 57 and ip the board upon the table as Grasping the forward endtable the operative slowly pushes the e rearwardly until the torwardedges strikes the stop t9 -which has been preadiusted to linut thelength of the The table is then pulled Jnorivardly y grooved boardrenioved troni the i Fig. l shows a board which has been grooved by thepresentniachine illustrating the iiornia'tion'of grooves differentlengths, and ot different disiuces apart.

lt vill be apparent that the inaehine thus provided is caiable ofcutting grooves in boardswith speed, accuracy and eliicienoy r. lo

and with very little effort on the part ot the operative.

l olaini as iny invention:

l. machine for grooving boards coniprising7 in conroination. a Jr'rainesupporting a bed having opposite iront and rear ledges.y a plurality ofbars supported at their pposite ends onsaid ledges.y eaeh lot said barshaving elongated vertical slots at opposite endsS devices operable to cnip the ends of said bars against said ledges including bolts Xtendingthrough said slots, a vertically disposed bearing housing threadedthrough each ot said bars, a spindle journaled in each of said housingsand carrying cutting` tool at its upper end and a drive pulleyv theloiver end, belt driving ineans for said pulleys, a table mounted toslide horizontally on said tra1ne,' and ineans tor clamping a boardtofbe grooved upon said table.

2. A machine for grooving boards coin- ;orising, in combination, a framehaving a horizontally disposed bed With an opening thereini a tablemounted on said. traine above said bed. a plurality of bars extendingacrosssaid opening and having their opposite ends clamped to said bedand adapted to be adjusted longitudinally and transversely of the bed. avertical bearing housing threaded through the center of each oif saidbars. ineans for locking each housing against nioveinent in its bar, aspindle journaled in each of said housings and earrying a toolprojecting above the upper surface of the said table. and driving ineansassociated with the lower ends ot' .said spindles.

board have passed the. tools'or the ill 8. In av multiple spindle`grooving; machine, a frame providing la. bedhaving opposed parallel.ledges, a plurality of toolcarrying spindles, andvmeans for mountingsaid spindles on saidbedfor adjustment transifersely and longitudinallythereof, comprising a plurality of bars, each Lsupporting one of saidspindles and having its opposite ends resting upon saidledges, said bars,havingnelongated vertical slots at opposite ends, rods extendingthrough said, slots, and clamping members at opposite endsof each rodone engaging the upper surface ofthe bar and the other engaging theunderside of one of said ledges.

4;. In a multiple spindle grooving machine, a frame providingahorizontal bed having an opening therein, a plurality of verticallydisposed tool carrying spindles and means for mounting -said spindles insaid opening for movement longitudinally and transversely of the bedcomprising a plurality of bars, each carrying one of said spindles andhaving elongated vertical slots at opposite ends, and bolts extendingthrough said slots and having means at their opposite ends for clampingthe ends of said bars to the bed at the edges of said opening.

ln a machine of the character described, a frame having an openingtherein, a spindle carrying a cutting tool at one of its ends, means foradjustably mounting said spindle in said opening comprising a bar havingan elongated slot at one end, a bolt extending through said slot, meanson the ends of said bolt to clamp said bar securely to said frame at theedge of said opening, and a bearing housing for said spindle threadedinto'said bar.

6. A machine for forming parallel grooves in the surface of a boardcomprising, in combination, a frame having a bed with an elongatedopening therein, a table upon which the board is clamped while it isbeing grooved, said table being mounted to slide forwardly andbackwardly on said frame, a plurality of bars extending across'saidopenin .o` having their opposite ends clamped to said bed whereby topermit adjustment of the bars longitudinally and. transversely of saidopening, a spindle rotatably mounted on each of said bars and extendingupwardly through said opening, and tools V'on said spindles projectingabove the upper surface of said table.

7. ln a machine of the character described, a frame providing ahorizontal' ledge, a plurality of tool-carrying spindles1 and means formounting said spindles for adjustment transversely and longitudinally ofsaid ledge comprising a plurality of bars each supporting one of saidLspindles and having a longitudinally extending slot therein providingfor adjustment of the. spindle transversely of said ledge, boltsextending through the' slots in said bars, and clamping lhooks on vtheyends -of said bolts vengaging said ledge and providing for adjustmentof said bars longitudinally of the ledge.

8. A machine forl `forming parallel grooves in a board comprising, incombinae tion, a jframe, a plurali-ty ofv spindle supporting ldevicesvrcarried by said frame, a rotary tool-carrying spindle mounted on eachof said supporting devices for axial adjustmentfsaid supporting devicesbeing arranged for adjustment perpendicular to the axes lofthe spindlesin one direction to provideKV for lateral spacing of the grooves andferent lengths maybe formed.

v9. A `machin-e for forming parallel grooves in ,a board comprising, in`combination, ay frame, and a plurality of tool-carrying spindles eachmounted on-said frame for axial adjustment whereby grooves of diiferentdepths may be cut, said spindles also being adapted to be adjustedtransversely in one direction to provide for lateral spacing of thegrooves and in another direction whereby grooves of different lengthscan be formed simultaneously.

10. A machine for forming grooves in a board comprising, in combination,a frame, and a plurality of tool-carrying spindles each mounted on saidframe for axial adjustment whereby grooves of different depths may becut, said spindles also being adapted for adjustment on the frame in adirection perpendicular to their axes to provide for varying therelative lengths of the grooves.

l1. In-a lnachine for cutting grooves in a board, the combination of aframe, a table movably mounted on said frame and supporting a board in afixed plane, a plurality of spindles mounted on said frame foradjustment perpendicular to said board, said spindles also being adaptedto be adjusted relative to said board in one direction to vary ,thelateral spacing of the grooves and in another direction to vary therelative lengths of the grooves, and tools carried by said spindles andprojecting through said table into position to engage the under surfaceof said board.

12. A machine for forming yparallel `grooves in the surface of a board'comprising, in combination, a stationary frame hav ing a horizontalledge,-a table upon which a board may be clamped YWhile being grooved,said table being mounted above said ledge and adapted for horizontalmovement back and forth on said frame, a plurality of bars supported bysaid ledge and adapted for horizontal adjustment thereon transverselyandy longitudinally of said table, individual means for each of saidbars operable to clamp said bars in adjusted position on said ledge, aplurality of vertically in another direction'whereby grooves of difidisposed spindles each rotatably mounted onv one of said bars, and toolseach carried on' by one oi said spindlesV With its cutting endAprojecting above the upper surface of said table.

13. A machine for forming parallel grooves in the surface of aboardcomprising, in combination, a frame, means for supporting a board to begrooved, a plurality of rotary spindles arranged in parallel relationand extending substantially perpendicular to the plane o" a board placedon said supporting means, rotary cutting tools one on @agli of saidspindles, a plurality of means on said frame each supporting one of saidspindles for individual adjustment relative to the other spindles in adirection to vary the length of the groove to be cut thereby Withrespect to the grooves to be formed by i@ the tools of the otherspindles.

i 14,; A machine for forming parallel grooves'in the surface of a boardcomprising, in combination, a frame, means for supy Y,

porting a board to be grooved, a plurality f of rotary spindles arrangedin parallel relation and extending substantially perpendicular to theplane 'of a board placed on of said spindles for individual adjustmentrelative to the other spindles in a direction to vary the lateralspacing and in another direction to vary the length of the groove to becut thereby With respect to the grooves i' vto be out by the tools onthe other spindles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

GEORGE H.v CARLSON.

